With more than 175 years collective experience, and an average tenure at Columbia National Real Estate Finance of nearly two decades, our professional staff of financial consultants is the best in the industry. But what truly distinguishes them is their unwavering commitment to the success of our many clients. In turn, the results of that dedication are what have made Columbia National one of the most trusted commercial mortgage banking institutions within the institutional lending community.
Meet Our Executive Staff:
Louis S. Weeks, III, Managing Director
Areas of Specialization: Construction, Interim and Permanent loans for all types of commercial real estate
Years in Industry: Specialist in commercial real estate since 1980
Accomplishments: Vice President of Bankers Trust Company, NY, NY 1984-1989. Assistant Vice President European American Bank & Trust Company, NY, NY 1983-1984.
- Responsible for managing the Columbia National portfolio of over 450 commercial properties
- Formed a Real Estate Development and Investment company in 1986 to act as both developer and operator of investment grade commercial proerties
- B.A. Skidmore college
- Master of Architecture, Pratt Institute
Michael S. Cordes, Managing Director
Areas of Specialization: Construction, Interim and Permanent loans for all types of commercial real estate
Years in Industry: Specialist in commercial real estate since 1980
Accomplishments: Chief Operating Officer of Mercantile Mortgage Corporation from 1986 through 2002. Helped turn small residential mortgage banking firm with less than $1M in revenue into a multi-faceted commercial real estate company with over $20M in annual revenue.
- Board member of the Maryland Mortgage Bankers Association,1990 - 1997
- President of the MMBA, 1997
- B.A. in Business, Franklin & Marshall College
- MBA, concentration in Finance, Loyola College
Donal O’Connell, Managing Director
Areas of Specialization: Origination, structuring, negotiation, settlement and servicing of commercial mortgages, joint ventures and equity investmentsYears in Industry: Specialist in commercial real estate since 1978 Accomplishments:
- Member, The Real Estate Group, Washington, D.C.
- Member, Lambda Alpha Land Economics Fraternity
- Member, Mortgage Bankers Association
- Committee Member, Income Property Committee, Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington
- Board of Governors, Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington
- Member, Urban Land Institute, Development Infrastructure and Services Council, 1987-1990
- Member, Urban Land Institute, Small Scale Development Council, 1990 – 1992
- Master’s Degree, Harvard University
- Bachelor’s Degree, University College, Dublin, Ireland
James V. Whipp III, Managing Director Areas of Specialization: Originating and closing income property loansYears in Industry: Joined Columbia National in 1971 Accomplishments:
- Holds Real Estate Salesman’s license from the Commonwealth of Virginia
- MBA, American University
- BA from the University of Virginia
- Past President, Mortgage Bankers Assocation of Washington
- Past Director, NVBA
R. Lawrence (Larry) Koch, Jr., Managing Director Areas of Specialization: Origination, approval and closing of various commercial real estate loans, pairing numerous institutional lenders with multiple local and national developersYears in Industry: Joined Columbia National in 1973 Accomplishments:
- Member, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce
- Member, National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP)
- Member, Urban Land Institute (ULI)
- Past President, Maryland Mortgage Bankers Association
- Maryland Real Estate Brokers License
- Bachelor of Science Economics, South Dakota State University
- Masters of Business Administration, Loyola College of Baltimore
- United States Navy, Naval Intelligence Service (1968-72)
J. Roger Edwards III, Managing Director Areas of Specialization: Underwriting income producing properties, on-site inspection & analysis and negotiating transaction structures for office, multifamily, retail, hotels, and mixed-use propertiesYears in Industry: 10 years, real estate venture consultation, analysis and financing
Accomplishments: Assisted in closing over $976.72 million in debt and equity for multiple property types. As real estate consultant with Ernst & Young, participated in a $500 million debt restructuring of a real estate portfolio for a major bank. Also assisted with implementing the Department of Defense’s Military Housing Privatization Initiative.
- Member, Washington DC Real Estate Group
- Member, Johns Hopkins University Real Estate Forum
- North Carolina Real Estate Salesman License
- Bachelor of Business Administration, Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University
- Masters of Science, Real Estate, Johns Hopkins University
Scott H. Park, Managing Director Areas of Specialization: Underwriting, structuring, and closing of commercial real estate debt and equity transactions. Significant experience in Hotels, Apartments, Office Buildings, Retail Centers, Self-Storage, Warehouses, Flex Buildings, and Golf CoursesYears in Industry: 15 years in Commercial Real EstateAccomplishments:
- Bachelor of Science, Business, West Virginia University
- Masters of Science, Real Estate, Johns Hopkins University
Timothy J. Dell, Managing Director
Education:
B.S. in Business from Towson University in 1976.
Areas of Specialization: Commercial real estate specialist since 1982, originating permanent and interim loans, and equity placements for all types of commercial real estate.
Years in Industry: Began mortgage banking career in 1977 with Columbia National’s predecessor, James W. Rouse and Company, Inc., originating and servicing single family residential construction and development loans, and single family residential permanent loans.
Industry Affiliations: Board member of the Maryland Mortgage Bankers Association from 2002 to 2007. Licensed real estate sales person.
David C. Rogers, Managing Director
Areas of Specialization: Origination, structuring, negotiation, closing and servicing of commercial debt and equity for all types of investment properties.
Years in Industry: Specialist in commercial real estate finance since 1985.
Accomplishments:
- Senior Vice President, Randall Hagner Ltd. 1988-2007
- Member, Board of Governors, Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington
- Member, Commercial Real Estate Finance (“CREF”) Council, Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington
- Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, Maryland
- Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Duquesne University
Stephen J. Rogers, Managing Director
Areas of Specialization: Origination and closing of debt and equity for all types of investment properties.
Years in Industry: Specialist in commercial real estate since 1975
Accomplishments: Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Randall Hagner Ltd. 1986-2007. President, Capital Express Group (equity investment affiliate of Hagner), 2002-2007.
Member, Urban Land Institute
- Certified Property Manager (CPM), Institute of Real Estate Management
- Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University Real Estate Program, 1998-2002
- BA, Merrimack College
- MS, Real Estate and Urban Development, American University
- MA, Johns Hopkins University
Melissa Peters, Vice President Areas of Specialization: Various types of commercial real estate, including affordable rental housing and healthcare Years in Industry: Twenty one years in community development, affordable housing and commercial real estate finance.
Accomplishments:
- 18 years of public service as FHA Chief Underwriter with FHA/HUD Baltimore Field Office
- Two years as Director of Housing and Community Development for City of Westminster, Maryland
- Excellence in Federal Career as Outstanding Supervisor 2004 Award from the Federal Executive Board
- B.A., Urban Affairs & Planning, Virginia Polytechnic and State University
Steve Arnold, Vice President
Areas of Specialization: Origination and structuring of all types of commercial real estate capital from permanent non-recourse debt to participating equity
Years in Industry:
- Over 11 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry.
- 2 years as a REIT industry analyst with SNL Securities, Charlottesville, VA
- 3 years as a Real Estate Consultant with Ernst & Young, Washington, DC
- 6 years originating and underwriting real estate transactions with Columbia National, Baltimore, MD
Education:
- B.A. in Economics, University of Virginia
- M.S. in Real Estate, Johns Hopkins University
- Concentration in Institutional Real Estate Investment
- Recipient of 2007 Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington Scholarship
